Stoker



`4 Sheets-Sheet l W. T. HANNA sToKER Aug. 18, 1936.

original Filed Aug. 1o, 192s I INVENTOR ///zm/z Maffe/WW2 Karma B mim# W. T. HANNA Aug. 18, 1936.

STOKER Original Filed Aug. l0

, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 H "IH lill.

t IHHIIM d Erm wwf mmf M RWM w. T.- VHANNA 2,051,040

STOKER Original Filed Aug. lO, 1923 4'Sheets-Sheet 3 Aug. 18, 1936.

Aug. 18, 1936.

l Original Filed Aug. lO, 1923 W. T. HANNA 2,051,040

STOKER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I r f im HllTms IIIII f3 Houd, f Q A TORNESGMH? Patented Aug. 18, 1936 UNETE S'EA'EESy PAT ENT @HQE Application August 10, 1928, Serial No. 298,817 Renewed October 6, 1934 8 Claims.

but more particularly to stokers for use on locomotives.

An object of the invention is to provide a Stoker in which the line of transit of the fuel from the tender to the entrance of the fire door of the locomotive will be direct, thus obviating the necessity of conducting the fuel through curved conduits.

Another object of the invention is to provide a crushing device on the tender whichv comprises a construction that acts to relieve congestion of the fuel preliminary to and within the crushing device, as well as after the crushing operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide fuel conveying means in which the means preliminary to the crushing operation will be of slow speed and high power, and the conveying means subsequent to the crushing operation will be of high speed, thus acting to prevent the fuel from pyramiding, around the crushing device and on the tender deck.

Another object of the invention is to provide fuel conveying means that will eiectively transv port large lumps of fuel to the crushing device and thereafter transport the crushed fuel to the fire-box without excessive pulverization as is the case wherein knuckle joints and other mechanical interferences are present in the passages through which the coal is conveyed.

These and other apparent objects and advantages are attained by the means describedV in the following specifications and disclosed in the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. 1 shows a sectional view of Stoker mechanism embodying this invention taken substantially on a longitudinal center line.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation showing the mechanism in Fig. l, but showing certain parts broken away substantially on a line 2 2, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan View of the mechanism shown in Fig. l, but showing certain parts broken away substantially on a line 3 3, Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section, showing one form of conveying and crushing mechanism on the tender.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section of the mechanism shown in Fig. 4, taken substantially on a line 5 5, Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section, taken on a line 6 6, Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a sectional View, taken substantially on a line 1 1, Fig. 4.

On the drawings, 20 represents the back-head of a locomotive nre-box having the usual re bed This invention relates to stokers in general.,

grate bars 2l and a firing opening 22. Embracing said opening and rigidly mounted on the outer face of the back-head is a housing 23 having a delivery opening 23a coinciding with the fire door opening 22. Substantially in alignment 5 with the opening 23a, in the opposite wall of said housing, is an opening 23D which is embraced by a conventional form of fire door plate 24 having an opening 24a, which serves as a re door opening and upon which plate may be l0 mounted the usual automatic fire door (not shown), such as for example the Franklin butterfly type. The lower side of the delivery opening 23a is represented by a portion of. the housing 23o, which constitutes in effect a ledge exl5 tending across the firing opening 22 and serves as a sort of spill way for the fuel as it entersv the fire-box.

The housing 23 is arranged to receive the delivery end of a conveyor 25 which is rotatably 20 supported in a cylindrical conduit 26, the forward end of said' conduit being universally journaled and supported in the said housing below the deck 2l of the locomotive. The opposite end of the conduit 26 is slidably encompassed by a member 26a which is arranged to have a universal connection with a conduit 28 rigidly secured to the front face of the tender hopper 29 (Fig. 4'). The design and construction of the conduit 28 is of such a character that the crosssectional area of the chamber within said conduit increases from the entrance at the tender hopper end to the portion which encompasses the member 26a. Thus the fuel passing through the conduit 28 is thereby offered greater freedom 35 as it approaches the conveyor 25, with the result that the tendency ofthe fuel to pack is minimized.

The tender hopper 29 is preferably in the form of a trough as shown, and is rigidly mounted in the` usual manner upon the tender 29a'y and in this instance it is preferably arranged to incline upwardly toward the delivery end. Above the tender hopper 29 is the usual tender deck 39 arrangedv so as to permit various areas thereof to discharge fuel into said hopper. Rotatably supported within the trough of the tender hopper 29 is a conveyor '3| which has its delivery end partially encompassed by a crushing member 32 rigidly secured to the inside front face of the 50l tender hopper. The delivery end of the conveyor 3l is preferably arranged to terminate adjacent the entrance of the conduit 28, and the opposite end of said conveyor is suitably journaled in the rear end of the tender hopper and has rigidly secured thereto a gear 33 which has operative engagement with a gear 34 rigidly secured to a shaft 35. The opposite end of the shaft 35 is suitably journaled in a bearing 36 on the side of the tender hopper 29, and has rigidly secured thereto a fork 37 which is part of a universal joint, connecting the shaft 35 with a power device such as a steam motor or other source of motive power 38 through a suitable driving connection, as for example a telescopic shaft 39. The rear end of the shaft portion of the conveyor 25 projects beyond the member 26a and has rigidly secured thereto a fork 40 which is part of a uni- Versal joint the other part being secured to one end of a telescopic shaft 4|, the opposite end of which is similarly arranged with a universal joint so as to eifect operative engagement with a shaft 42, suitably journaled in the rear end of the tender hopper 29 and having rigidly secured thereto a gear 43 which has operative engagement with the gear 34, whereby rotary motion may thus be transmitted from the gear 34 to the conveyor 25.

The tender hopper 29 is provided with a plurality of bars 44 rigidly mounted therein at varying distances above the conveyor 3| and adjacent the crushing member 32. These bars 44 act to confine the larger lumps of fuel within the space between the vanes of the conveyor and thus assist the member 32 in the crushing operation.

The conduit 28 is preferably provided with an opening 28a on the upper side, covered by a plate 2817 which is accessible through an `opening 30a in the tender deck, providing for access to the chamber within the conduit 28 whenever it is desired to observe the condition of the fuel therein or to hand-feed fuel directly to the conveyor 25.

The member 26a, which encompasses the rear end of the conduit 26 is arranged for longitudinal motion thereon so that the conduit 26 and the conveyor 25 maintain a xed longitudinal relation with the housing 23.

Suitably arranged within the housing 23 is a fuel distributing device which may be of any suitable character, butin this instance this device is shown as comprising fuel distributing members such as the rotary vanes 45 and 46, which are journaled in cap plates 41 and 48 forming part of the sidewalls of the said housing. The distributing vanes 45 and 46 are so positioned in the housing relative to the delivery opening 23a so as to leave said opening substantially unobstructed. This positioning of the distributing vanes 45 and 46 with respect to the housing 23 is clearly shown in the Figures l through 3. The respective axes of the vanes converge toward one another to point to the firing opening, and lie in a plane which intersects the firing opening. The axis of the cylindrical conduit 26 approximately lies in the plane of the axes of the vanes 45 and 46. In other words, as is more fully described hereinafter, the axis of conduit 26 and the axes of the distributing devices 45 and 46, and the lower edge of the ring opening are all approximately contained in the same plane. The action of these vanes 45 and 48 is to move the coal toward and through the opening 23a in a manner somewhat synonymous to the action of a fluid passing in lateral waves over a spill way, which in this instance may be designated as the ledge 23e. The arrangement of the distributing devices 45 and 46 with the conduit 26and the lower edge 'of the firing opening materially increases the eifectiveness of the distributing devices in taking the fuel from the conduit 26, and delivering it to the ring opening in a distributed condition.

The fuel passing over the so-called spill way flows upon and over a blast chamber 49, positioned inside the firing opening 22 below the ledge 23e. The said blast chamber is provided with arms 49a and 4917, by means of which it is supported in the side walls of the housing 23 through pipe sections 50 and 5| anchored respectively in the said arms. Said pipe sections are coupled to the high and low pressure steam lines 52 and 53 through unions 54 and 55 and the steam iiow therein is controlled by means of valves 56 and 5l.

Immediately below the blast chamber 49 is a distributor plate 58, normally stationary but slidably mounted for adjustment. The distributor plate is of a design which serves to scatter the fuel in an effective manner, particularly as regards the distribution thereof to the back corners of the fire-box which are supplied mainly through the agency of the channels 58a. In order that the distributing plate may serve to more effectively cover the area of the fire bed, its position longitudinal thereof may be varied by means of the crank shaft 59, suitably journaled in bearings on the housing 23 and having a handle 59a and a crank 60, which latter is pivotally connected to the distributor plate by means of the link 6|. In Figs. 1 and 3 the distributor plate is shown in its advanced or forward position.

In order to provide a control for the lateral distribution of the volume of fuel passing over the ledge 23o, I have provided means for varying the eifective length of the said ledge. This result may be accomplished in various ways, but in this instance I have provided adjustable members 62 and 63 which are slidably mounted in the side walls of the housing 23 and rest upon thc ledge 23e. The said members are arched in cross-section so as to 'extend preferably partially around the vanes 45 and 46, and each of the said members kmay be independently positioned from the side of the housing so that they not only control the effective length of the ledge 23e but also may throw the effective length of said ledge out of center with the firing opening 22 and thereby serve to direct a greater volume of fuel to the right or to the left as desired. 'Ihe operating means for the members 62 and 63 kcomprise levers 64 and 65 pivotally supported upon pins 6 6 and 61 mounted in lugs 23d extending from the housing 23, said levers being arranged to have operative engagement with the members 62 and 63 through pins 68 and 69.

The vanes 45 and 46 may be actuated in any suitable manner, but in this instance I have provided each vane with an independent change gear device (not shown herein), by means of which the speed or rotation of each vane may be varied as desired or the rotation of either vane may be stopped. This change gear device for each vane is confined and supported within a housing 10 rigidly attached to the cap plates 41 and 48, and is manipulated by means of the handle The fuel distributing device, the blast chamber, the distributing plate, the members 62 and 63, together with the device for operating and controlling each of these elements are of the same character as the corresponding elements disclosed in my U. S. application 286,222, and do not enter primarily into the novelty of this invention except in so far as their position is relative to other elements herein described.

The power device or steam motor 38 by means of which the conveying and crushing mechanism and the distributing device is operated, may be of any suitable character, but I have here shown (Figure l) a power-device in the form of a steam motor like that disclosed in my U. S. Patent 1,577,462, in which the primary transmission element comprises a rack and pinion such as the rack I2 and the pinion i3, and it is this form of primary transmission element that I prefer to have embodied in the power device for operating a stolrer of the character described herein, but it will be understood that other forms of transmission elements may also be used effectively. However, the power device of whatever character, preferably should be provided with a control lever such as the lever lll, and arranged to be indexed in various radial positions as herein shown, such as for example one position for rotating the vanes t5 and t6 in a forward direction, and another position for reverse motion thereof. If desired, a third position may be utilized for stopping the rotation of the said vane independently of the aforesaid change gear device. Also there should beprovided a control lever such as the lever l5 for starting and stopping rotation of the conveyors and 3l.

I. e operation of this Stoker mechanism comprises the reception of the coal by the trough of the tender hopper, beneath the deck of the tender, and its movement therein into the crushing zone of the crushing device wherein the lumps of fuel are reduced to a pre-determined maximum size or less, before discharge from the tender hopper, from which the crushed fuel falls by gravity into the path of a conveying device, such as the conveyor 2E, by which it is transported to the locomotive and deposited by the said conveyor directly into the distributing zone of a distributing device such as the spiral distributors 45 and 55, which serve to subsequently pass the fuel through the firing opening above the level of the fire, thus causing it to fall upon and flow over the blast chamber, which action tends to further distribute it and prepare it for reception by a distributor plate from which it is scattered over the fire by means of the blasts of steam emitting from the jets of the blast chamber.

It should be particularly observed that a distinct advantage of the construction shown is that the delivery end of the conveyor 25 is positioned just below the deck of the locomotive, and that the opposite end of said conveyor is positioned below the forward end of the tender, and that thereby this arrangement permits the conveyor to be tipped so that a direct route is established for the fuel, through the conveyor and distributing devices, from the tender to a point well above the level of the re. Further it should be observed that it is a distinct advantage that the conveyor 25 is not in axial alignment with the conveyor in the tender hopper, as thereby the conveyor 25 may be operated at a relatively higher speed than said other conveyor, and that this construction obviates ,any necessity of placing driving connections within the fuel conveyor conduit. Furthermore, this arrangement provides for the fuel to fall through space as it leaves the tender hopper and before entering the conveyor which transports it to the locomotive, thus preventing back pressure into the crushing device and tender hopper such as is ordinarily experienced when the conveyor in the tender hopper delivers the fuel directly to the conveyor which transports it to the locomotive.

While I have shown and described a particular construction embodying this invention asapplied: to a locomotive and its tender, it is to be understood that the same is for the purpose of illustration only, and that I am not limited to the detailed. features thereof, as it is obvious that the construction may be variously modied and' altered without in any manner departing fromA the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims:

I claim:

1. In a Stoker mechanism for conveyingl fuel from a source of fuel supply to a lire box having a iiring opening, in combination, a fuel conveying conduit for conveying fuel from the source of fuel'provided with a delivery housing having a downwardly extending spherically shaped portion, and an elevating conduit for elevating fuel to the firing opening, said elevating conduit having a receiving end provided with an upwardly extending spherically shaped portion engaging said downwardly extending spherical portion ofA said delivery housing to establish a universal connection between said delivery housing and said elevating conduit.

2. In a stoker mechanism for conveying fuel from a source of fuel supply to a fire box having a firing opening, a fuel conveyer having a delivery end, said delivery end being provided with a downwardly extending spherical portion; and an elevating conduit for elevating fuel to said firing opening and having a receiving end positioned below said delivery end and provided with spherically shaped means adapted to connect with said downwardly extending spherical portion to form a universal point between said delivery end and the receiving end of said elevating conveyer.

3. In a Stoker mechanism for use in conveying fuel from a source of fuel supply to a fire box having a firing opening, an elevating conduit for raising fuel from said supply to said firing opening, an elevating conveyer in said conduit, and revoluble fuel conditioning means located in the path of said fuel issuing from said elevating conveyer for conditioning the fuel rising from said elevating conduit, the axes of said elevating conveyer and said fuel conditioning means and the lower edge of said firing opening being arranged in approximately a single plane, whereby a straight line flow of fuel from said elevating conveyer, past said distributing means, and into said firing opening is accomplished.

4. In a stoker mechanism, the combination with a fire box having a fuel entrance and a fuel supply bin, of conveying means for conveying fuel forwardly from said bin to said entrance, comprising a fuel conveying conduit for conveying fuel from beneath the bin provided with a delivery end having a downwardly extending spherically shaped portion, and a second fuel conveying conduit communicating with said entrance and provided with a receiving opening having a universal connection with said downwardly extending spherically shaped portion of said delivery end, said delivery end also having an upwardly extending portion forming a passageway between the floor of said bin and said delivery end whereby fuel may be fed to said delivery end independently of said first named fuel conveying conduit.

5. In a stoker mechanism, the combination with a fire box having a fuel entrance and a fuel supply bin, of conveying means for conveying fuel forwardly from said bin to said entrance, comprising a fuel conveying conduit for conveying fuel from beneath the bin provided with a delivery end having a downwardly extending portion, and a second fuel conveying conduit communicating with said entrance and provided with a receiving opening having a connection with said downwardly extending portion of said delivery end, said delivery end also having an upwardly extending portion forming a passageway between the floor of said bin and said delivery end whereby fuel may be fed to said delivery end independently of said rst named fuel conveying conduit.

6. In a stoker mechanism, the combination with a fire box having a firing opening, of a conduit provided with means for forcing fuel from a source of fuel supply to said opening, said opening having a lower edge over which fuel flows, means for distributing fuel fed to said opening upon and over the re, and fuel conditioning and regulating means arranged in said conduit and interposed between said fuel forcing means and said lower edge for transforming the forced fuel into form relatively thinner than the bulk of fuel in the conduit and regulating the presentation of fuel to the distributing means; the lower edge of said firing opening, and the axis of said conduit being arranged in approximately a single plane with the fuel conditioning and regulating means interposed therebetween whereby the general path of the flow of fuel from the conduit to the firing opening is approximately a straight line;

7. In a Stoker mechanism, the combination with a fire box having a fuel entrance of a fuel supply bin, conveying means for conveying fuel upwardly from said bin to said entrance, comprising a fuel conveying conduit for conveying fuel from beneath the bin and provided with a delivery end having a spherically shaped portion opening downwardly, and a second fuel conveying conduit communicating with said entrance and provided with a receiving opening having a spherically shaped portion Aopening upwardly, said two spherically shaped portions forming a universal connection between the fuel conveying conduits.

8. In a stoker mechanism, the combination with a lire box having a fuel entrance of a fuel supply bin, conveying means for conveying fuel forwardly from said bin to said entrance, comprising a fuel conveying conduit for conveying fuel from beneath the bin provided with a delivery end having a spherically shaped portion opening downwardly, and a second fuel conveying conduit communicating with said entrance and provided with a receiving opening having a universal connection with said spherically shaped portion of said delivery end, said delivery end also having an upwardly extending portion forming a passageway between the floor of said bin and said delivery end whereby fuel may be fed to said vdelivery end independently of said first named fuel conveying conduit.

WILLIAM THOMPSON HANNA. 

